MRC PhD students

Exploring/investigating relationship experiences of couples with one OCD partner

Various research indicates that obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) impinges on approximately 2-3% of the adult population and is considered across the world as a debilitating and costly mental illness, that influences the social, occupational, and familial domains. This research is interested in exploring the latter part of the spectrum. The aim is to investigate the relationship experiences of couples with one OCD partner.

Very little is known about the OCD partners’ perception of how the disorder is influencing the romantic relationship and to what extent they experience relationship satisfaction. This has limited the development of intervention strategies for partners suffering the effects of OCD. This is an area that has been under investigated, and it inhibits our understanding on the topic within a relevant South African context. Research in this area will help us to understand the impact of OCD on both partners in close relationships and inform effective interventions.

The MRC Anxiety & Stress Disorder Research Unit situated at Stellenbosch University’s medical campus will be utilised to approach participants (with a  confirmed diagnosis of OCD) and their spouses/partners to participate in the research. The demographic details of the participants will therefore not be determined beforehand. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods will be utilised.  Self report questionnaires will be used to measure constructs like intimacy and relationship satisfaction. In-depth interviews will be conducted to explore the couple’s relationship experiences.

This study is supervised by Dr E Lesch, Department of Psychology, University of Stellenbosch and Prof Dan Stein, Director: MRC's Anxiety and Stress Disorders Research Unit/Head: Dept Psychiatry.